Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > USA
Reload this Page >

Great credit card to build US credit.

Great credit card to build US credit.

Old Sep 23rd 2011, 1:42 am
  #1  
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 54
chrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to all
Default Great credit card to build US credit.

I have been in the states now for 12 months and building credit has been a nightmare. (I got refused a target store card 4 months ago!). However, things are looking up, i managed to get a co-signer on a car loan, and tonight i got approved for a capital one - Cash Rewards for Newcomers credit card.

Looks like a good option for new expats. You even get 1% cash back
chrisroach is offline  
Old Sep 23rd 2011, 1:43 am
  #2  
Yes, I know i'm awesome.
 
ljaw2002uk's Avatar
 
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
Posts: 624
ljaw2002uk has a reputation beyond reputeljaw2002uk has a reputation beyond reputeljaw2002uk has a reputation beyond reputeljaw2002uk has a reputation beyond reputeljaw2002uk has a reputation beyond reputeljaw2002uk has a reputation beyond reputeljaw2002uk has a reputation beyond reputeljaw2002uk has a reputation beyond reputeljaw2002uk has a reputation beyond reputeljaw2002uk has a reputation beyond reputeljaw2002uk has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Great credit card to build US credit.

Do you have a link?
ljaw2002uk is offline  
Old Sep 23rd 2011, 2:33 am
  #3  
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 54
chrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to allchrisroach is a name known to all
Default Re: Great credit card to build US credit.

http://www.capitalone.com/creditcard...20_T_CP98919AW
chrisroach is offline  
Old Oct 2nd 2011, 1:58 pm
  #4  
Just Joined
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 17
shanejet is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Great credit card to build US credit.

Originally Posted by chrisroach
I have been in the states now for 12 months and building credit has been a nightmare. (I got refused a target store card 4 months ago!). However, things are looking up, i managed to get a co-signer on a car loan, and tonight i got approved for a capital one - Cash Rewards for Newcomers credit card.

Looks like a good option for new expats. You even get 1% cash back
I got a proper credit card 1 month after we arrived in the states, it helped that we brought over some money and opened a BOA bank account.
Rang the bank after a month and asked for a credit card, got one with $1000 limit, didn't need to put any money onto it either.
shanejet is offline  
Old Oct 2nd 2011, 4:13 pm
  #5  
BE Forum Addict
 
E3only's Avatar
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: East Bay Area
Posts: 2,192
E3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Great credit card to build US credit.

Originally Posted by shanejet
I got a proper credit card 1 month after we arrived in the states, it helped that we brought over some money and opened a BOA bank account.
Rang the bank after a month and asked for a credit card, got one with $1000 limit, didn't need to put any money onto it either.
how some is some?
E3only is offline  
Old Oct 2nd 2011, 7:41 pm
  #6  
Bob
BE Site Lead
 
Bob's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,167
Bob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Great credit card to build US credit.

Originally Posted by E3only
how some is some?
It's with BoA, so it's the same as signing up with the devil, so amounts don't mean to much
Bob is offline  
Old Oct 3rd 2011, 1:37 am
  #7  
BE Forum Addict
 
E3only's Avatar
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: East Bay Area
Posts: 2,192
E3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond reputeE3only has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Great credit card to build US credit.

Lol. True that.

My point was, there is no point comparing a case where OP wants CC and has no credit vs someone who brought in say 100k from UK. Of corse BOA will bend over backwards.

Originally Posted by Bob
It's with BoA, so it's the same as signing up with the devil, so amounts don't mean to much
E3only is offline  
Old Oct 3rd 2011, 12:23 pm
  #8  
Just Joined
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 17
shanejet is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Great credit card to build US credit.

Originally Posted by E3only
how some is some?
It was 60k.

Who cares if it BofA or another bank, it is still a credit card, as long as you pay it off in time you will get no trouble from the bank.
And it builds up your credit score as well, so we are not complaining about the bank.
shanejet is offline  
Old Oct 3rd 2011, 12:27 pm
  #9  
Just Joined
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 17
shanejet is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Great credit card to build US credit.

Originally Posted by shanejet
It was 60k.

Who cares if it BofA or another bank, it is still a credit card, as long as you pay it off in time you will get no trouble from the bank.
And it builds up your credit score as well, so we are not complaining about the bank.
also forgot to add, we are getting a house mortgage through HSBC as well.
They seem to be one of the only banks that will use an international credit rating.

We do have to provide quite a lot of paperwork though to the underwriters (ie tax returns, proof that we are renting out our house back home, employment letter, breakdown of pay for the past three years etc etc).

We are only putting 25% down payment, and the loan is quite small, about $115,000.
shanejet is offline  
Old Oct 3rd 2011, 3:55 pm
  #10  
Septic Sprout
 
tonrob's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
tonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Great credit card to build US credit.

Originally Posted by shanejet
Who cares if it BofA or another bank, it is still a credit card, as long as you pay it off in time you will get no trouble from the bank. And it builds up your credit score as well, so we are not complaining about the bank.
You could say that about any banking product. Everything is fine until something is not, and then you find out who the good banks are. BofA is not known for being one of them.
tonrob is offline  
Old Oct 5th 2011, 2:09 pm
  #11  
BE Forum Addict
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,131
adjudicator89 has a reputation beyond reputeadjudicator89 has a reputation beyond reputeadjudicator89 has a reputation beyond reputeadjudicator89 has a reputation beyond reputeadjudicator89 has a reputation beyond reputeadjudicator89 has a reputation beyond reputeadjudicator89 has a reputation beyond reputeadjudicator89 has a reputation beyond reputeadjudicator89 has a reputation beyond reputeadjudicator89 has a reputation beyond reputeadjudicator89 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Great credit card to build US credit.

Capital one was a first credit card that I applied for when I got my SS number and believe it or not my credit limit was 10k. Yes on first card. I couldn't believe it too. But I believe it had to do with something that my ex-wife put me on her credit card (Citi bank I believe) so that is why they gave me 10k. However, a friend of mine, when she got her SSN and had no credit at all she told me she applied with capital one as well and they approved her for 1000 dollars. I think thats pretty good for a first card with no credit history.(it was Capital One as well) So yes Capital one if I was you I would deff. give it a try. Let us know how it went :-)
adjudicator89 is offline  
Old Oct 5th 2011, 5:11 pm
  #12  
Bob
BE Site Lead
 
Bob's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,167
Bob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond reputeBob has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Great credit card to build US credit.

Originally Posted by milan79
Capital one was a first credit card that I applied for when I got my SS number and believe it or not my credit limit was 10k. Yes on first card. I couldn't believe it too. But I believe it had to do with something that my ex-wife put me on her credit card (Citi bank I believe) so that is why they gave me 10k. However, a friend of mine, when she got her SSN and had no credit at all she told me she applied with capital one as well and they approved her for 1000 dollars. I think thats pretty good for a first card with no credit history.(it was Capital One as well) So yes Capital one if I was you I would deff. give it a try. Let us know how it went :-)
The piggy backing trick of the past, which was what helped you, won't work these days.
Bob is offline  
Old Oct 24th 2011, 9:06 pm
  #13  
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 180
RayM has much to be proud ofRayM has much to be proud ofRayM has much to be proud ofRayM has much to be proud ofRayM has much to be proud ofRayM has much to be proud ofRayM has much to be proud ofRayM has much to be proud ofRayM has much to be proud ofRayM has much to be proud ofRayM has much to be proud of
Default Re: Great credit card to build US credit.

I thought this Capital One card sounded good and decided to apply. After a week I got a letter saying I had been declined. The reason was - Based on the credit report from Equifax/Experian/Trans Union for x, credit bureau information is missing or unavailable.
How the hell can they advertise the card as -

New country, new credit — start building today!
Summary of Key Benefits:
A card designed to help those new to the U.S. build credit
with automatic reporting to three major credit bureaus

A complete waste of time!
RayM is offline  
Old Oct 24th 2011, 9:24 pm
  #14  
Septic Sprout
 
tonrob's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
tonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond reputetonrob has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Great credit card to build US credit.

Originally Posted by RayM
I thought this Capital One card sounded good and decided to apply. After a week I got a letter saying I had been declined. The reason was - Based on the credit report from Equifax/Experian/Trans Union for x, credit bureau information is missing or unavailable.
How the hell can they advertise the card as -

New country, new credit — start building today!
Summary of Key Benefits:
A card designed to help those new to the U.S. build credit
with automatic reporting to three major credit bureaus

A complete waste of time!
Sooner or later all banks are a big shower of shit.

Try a BofA secured card, and then switch your business to a better card as soon as your rating's up (but don't cancel the BofA one, just convert it to a fee-free product).
tonrob is offline  
Old Oct 24th 2011, 9:30 pm
  #15  
BE Enthusiast
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: California
Posts: 471
Wibblypig has much to be proud ofWibblypig has much to be proud ofWibblypig has much to be proud ofWibblypig has much to be proud ofWibblypig has much to be proud ofWibblypig has much to be proud ofWibblypig has much to be proud ofWibblypig has much to be proud ofWibblypig has much to be proud ofWibblypig has much to be proud ofWibblypig has much to be proud of
Default Re: Great credit card to build US credit.

Originally Posted by RayM
I thought this Capital One card sounded good and decided to apply. After a week I got a letter saying I had been declined. The reason was - Based on the credit report from Equifax/Experian/Trans Union for x, credit bureau information is missing or unavailable.
How the hell can they advertise the card as -

New country, new credit — start building today!
Summary of Key Benefits:
A card designed to help those new to the U.S. build credit
with automatic reporting to three major credit bureaus

A complete waste of time!
Nightmare!

We just got one through HSBC (via AIG/Travelguard expat programme) with a 10K limit, oddly it's the first time I have ever had a credit card ...I feel the shops calling me
Wibblypig is offline  

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.